Ways to Use Less Water
- Check and fix any water leaks.
- Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets.
- Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously.
- Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.
- Follow your community's water use restrictions or guidelines.
- Install a low-flow shower head.
- Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water.
- Turn off washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks.
Ways to Protect Our Water
- Revegetate or mulch disturbed soil as soon as possible.
- Never dump anything down a storm drain.
- Have your septic tank pumped and system inspected regularly.
- Check your car for oil or other leaks, and recycle motor oil.
- Take your car to a car wash instead of washing it in the driveway.
- Learn about your watershed.
Create Less Trash
- Buy items in bulk from loose bins when possible to reduce the packaging wasted.
- Avoid products with several layers of packaging when only one is sufficient. About 33 of what we throw away is packaging.
- Buy products that you can reuse.
- Maintain and repair durable products instead of buying new ones.
- Check reports for products that are easily repaired and have low breakdown rates.
- Reuse items like bags and containers when possible.
- Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.
- Use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones.
- Use reusable containers to store food instead of aluminum foil and cling wrap.
- Shop with a canvas bag instead of using paper and plastic bags.
- Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently.
- Reuse packaging cartons and shipping materials. Old newspapers make great packaging material.
- Compost your vegetable scraps.
- Buy used furniture - there is a surplus of it, and it is much cheaper than new furniture.